Decisions Made: Daryl's POV
"What?" Wanda's voice sounded, not far away. Her eyes were somewhat wide, but I couldn't fully tell due to the dim lighting.
"Why the hell would we find him?" Melanie spoke, eyeing Nate and Jeb. The two sighed.
"He was your Healer, I know," Nate said, looking both at Wanda and Melanie. "But he's not that bad, really. He's actually…sympathetic."
"All souls are," Melanie replied.
"But this one is different," Jeb spoke convincingly, stepping forward. "He has sympathy for us humans. He's changed."
"How can you be so sure?" Wanda asked skeptically, her tiny body moving towards Melanie's side. "I've only met him a couple of times, and I suppose you know him as much as I do?"
"Indeed, Wanda," Jeb nodded then let Nate explain further.
"He let one of our friends go. He caught her, and when he saw us he just released us all."
"Did he say why?" someone from the back inquired.
"He said he doesn't want to be a monster anymore."
There was a strange silence. I then decided to talk to Daryl.
You listening to this?
I'm always here, he replied and I sighed. You know him, don't you? he continued, more of a statement than a confirmation.
Yes, I do. He was the same Healer I had. I've only met him once.
You must be healthy, he smirked.
"Why do we have to find him?" Jared asked, taking Melanie's hand. I glanced sideways to see Nilah's fingers still intertwined with mine. I squeezed it slightly then looked back ahead.
"Well, we've done a little research," Nate began, rubbing the back of his neck. "It seems to be that he doesn't do insertions anymore. And that he lived with a newly discovered cell - you know, with other survivors. There's even a rumor he'd found them himself."
"Rumor," Kyle scoffed then Sunny elbowed him a little.
"And how many volunteers do you need?" asked Jared.
"No less than six."
"Why do we even need to find him?" Sharon inquired.
"Because the rumors are true," Burns answered. "Our goal is to save as much people we can and Fords is surely acting the same way. He operated those humans himself. Now, he's in hiding, even from them. Don't ask me how I know. I am positive about this, and now, you guys have to make a decision on who's coming with us."
"I will," Doc stepped up.
"Then so will I," Sharon said, but Doc stopped her.
"They need you here. You know nearly as much as I do with the meds and whatnot. You have to stay just in case an accident happens."
Sharon bit her lower lip then reluctantly nodded.
"Wanda and I will go," Ian announced, hugging Wanda close to his side. She was nodding in agreement.
"Well, I can't go," I heard Jared mutter and Melanie gave him a quizzical look.
"He's right, he can't go," Jeb said. "We still need him to lead the raids, since we're not entirely sure when they'll be back."
"Fine, then I'll stay," Melanie uttered. Jared was about to oppose, but didn't instead. He then smiled longingly at her and she grinned back. Wow.
There was another dead silence until Rob said, "So is that it? No more takers?"
Another silence.
"Okay then -"
"I'll go," Nilah stated, now walking towards the front. "I'm coming."
"You sure, Nilah?" Jamie asked. She nodded with no hesitation then Jamie followed her.
"I'm coming, too," he said and I frowned.
"That's settled then," Jeb announced, clapping his hand once.
"Jeb, aren't you going to go?" a female voice asked softly.
"No, Kim. Always remember - my house, my guests, so I can't leave it for who knows how long," he grinned.
"So that's it," he resumed and turned to each of the volunteers and our visitors. "You guys can leave at midnight, if you want. We'll provide for a couple of nights if you decide to stay a bit longer."
"Not necessary. We have to find our answers as soon as possible. Thank you, though," Nate slapped his hand on Jeb's shoulder in a friendly way.
I gazed at Nilah, who was looking down. I can't leave her. Well, she can't leave me like before. It hurt like hell when I found out that she left for good several months ago. I wasn't so keen on the idea but -
"I want to come," I found myself blurting. Everyone stared at me. Daryl!
What? You know how I can't be without her, too.
Well, do you think they'll trust me? I thought rhetorically. Seriously, stop controlling this body!
That was half of your actions, you know. Don't blame everything on me. Now, will you please do me this favor and go to the trip? Besides, you have enough reason why you should go.
What are you tal -
"We barely know him," someone muttered. Most of them concurred then I glanced at Nilah's bewildered expression.
"Daryl, I'm sorry, but I don't think it will make the rest of them comfortable," Jeb told me quietly. "We can't risk you being out there."
"I know him," I initiated deeply. "Healer Fords put me in this body."
Another muteness…
"How long have you exactly been in this host?" Blake spoke up.
"Eight years. How long has the rumors about Fords been circulating?"
"No one's seen him for about seven years." Now, that got them intrigued. Including me.
"When's the last time you've seen him? And where?"
"I've only talked to him right after the insertion. It was in Austin."
"Texas," he wondered, muttering.
"Then that's a start," Rob declared, breaking the soundless ambiance after a while. "Guess we'll have to make room for one more."
"What? But he's only been here a month!" Kyle countered.
"And he's probably the last one who's ever had direct contact with Fords," Blake said sensibly. "He's probably the last one he did the insertion with."
"Probably," he retorted. "Besides, you guys already know where to begin looking."
"Well, he might be lying," Burns shrugged.
"Okay, then everything's settled. They'll pack tonight and leave at midnight. And don't worry, they'll watch Daryl real carefully," Jeb added and gave me an approving nod. I returned the gesture.
Do I get a thank-you now? I smiled a little as we walked through the halls.
Yes, thank you, Daryl responded sincerely. Didn't expect that. And I'm sorry.
It's alright, I guess. We fight all the time but still, you're always there.
And never leaving, he stated, and I grinned.
"You're a weird one," a voice sounded beside me. I turned and saw Kim, who was smiling. I gave her a sheepish grin. I really have to control my reactions when people are around. Damn Daryl. I heard him chuckle in my head.
"Yeah, I get that sometimes. People think I'm daydreaming," I laughed dryly.
"Well, you're smiling to yourself, so that's a sign."
We both grinned. I guess I have a new friend.
"Not to myself," I clarified. "This host just humors me sometimes. Of course, her could get annoying too."
Hey! Daryl said, feigning a hurt tone.
"So he still speaks to you?" she asked and I nodded.
"That's really interesting," she uttered with genuine curiosity. "Well, tell me when he does something humorous, okay? All the jokes I've heard from the other guys are so outdated!" she laughed and waved, then we parted.
She's something, Daryl mused as I packed the few clothes I had.
So Texas, huh? he recalled. I remember when I got caught there.
Yeah, you were pretty reckless. You should've stayed in your aunt's house rather than roam around.
Well, I was pretty spontaneous. Anyway, get some sleep. Gotta be ready for some interrogations later. Trust me, they're going to ask you about your Healer and all.
But I already told them. That's all I know.
Still, they need a guide. But no worries. I'll rack your brain myself for the right answers.
Yeah, thanks, I muttered somewhat sarcastically.
Then Daryl let me sleep.
If you haven't noticed, there's a little mistake in the time setting. This is supposedly about 3 years after The Host, meaning that Wanda met Fords Deep Water 3 years before.
But in here, they said Fords hasn't done the insertion of souls in humans in like 7 or 8 years. But I'll keep it that way. It completes the scenario I recently just planned =)
